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Saturday, November 6, 2010

Liverpool owner John W Henry has revealed manager Roy Hodgson was surprised to learn of Damien Comolli's appointment as director of football strategy. Comolli, who held a similar role at Tottenham from 2005 to 2008, is set to work closely with Hodgson as part of a management team. Henry yesterday explained the Reds boss will need to have his targets approved before moving in the transfer market, but he is convinced the former Fulham boss and Comolli can work well as a team. "I really didn't talk that much with Roy over the week or so before we made the decision to bring Damien in, " Henry said. "I think he may have been surprised when I brought it up a couple of days before we brought in Damien. But he was fully supportive. He knows Damien. "The model really requires people of certain personalities for it to work and Roy and Damien are two personalities who will mesh well together. " The sale of Liverpool concluded in October when Tom Werner and John Henry's New England Sports Ventures bought the club for £300m. Following the takeover, Liverpool are expected to bolster their squad during the January transfer window. The arrival of Frenchman Comolli raised questions over what influence he will have on signings. Hodgson has said he expects to be given the final say, although Henry's strategy will allow significant input into deals from the likes of Comolli. "It'll be a group decision," Henry added. "You build consensus. I think that's a very good model. "But they'll each be in charge of their own areas." With Martin Broughton departing as chairman and Christian Purslow resigning as managing director following the successful sale of the club, Liverpool are seeking a new chief executive. Henry has underlined his intention to improve the playing staff, but insists he will not burden the club with heavy debt to bring in new personnel. "We really have to invest in the club," Henry said. "We need more depth, we need to build the squad, we need stadium changes whether we build a new ground at Stanley Park or we rebuild, refurbish Anfield. "That's going to take investment. If you build a stadium there's debt involved in that. Even Arsenal had to borrow to build Emirates. But you cannot sustain a club in the long term by borrowing to buy players. " New UEFA rules demanding clubs are self-sufficient in future seasons means over-spending on players will not be an option. Henry said: "You're really limited to what your revenues are. That means we have to create revenues worldwide, generate revenues, and I think that's what we're really good at. "